You guys are having WAY too much fun.
To me Rich, you're looking for what I've looked for, for years. I've tried all the permutations - all SS, all tube, tube amps with SS pre, hybrids, etc. I keep coming back to the same thing. Solid state, discreet, bipolar, Class A solid state amp - GOOD tube preamp. That's what gives me the guts, warmth, detail, imaging, etc. that I hear you asking for.
Bryan